RAFTING ACTIVITIES AND COURSES
Postgraduate School for Shipping
To lead expeditions on the powerful Himalayan riversin Nepal and India, on the untouched waters of Patagoniaor on the mythical Grand Canyon of Coloradoyou don't have to be a super-hero guide.
In addition to the technical knowledge acquired on our Alpine torrents, we need to broaden our knowledge a little more.
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Totem Adventure organises Rafting and Kayaking expeditions five continents since 1988. We will do our best to ensure that all our Know-How acquired over the years also become yours.
This campwill allow you to participate in and learn "hands on" a complete expedition. All 'student guides' will be on a separate raft, which they will steer throughout the trip, under the supervision of one of us, and will be an active part of the expedition. Each day there will also be a time dedicated to debriefing the day and theory.
What a guide must know to accompany a group on an expedition? Is it necessary to learn the visual navigation on large-volume rivers, navigate either paddling or rowing, with raft with luggage, knowing how to navigate in group, work with safety kayakwith cataraft, cargo raft etc., handling critical situations in difficult waters.
Working with people for 2/3 weeks is completely different from half a day on a river where we work every day. It is essential to learn to managing the group in a positive manner. We are in remote areas. Knowing possible alternative plans in case something goes wrong can become vital.
One must also know how to do seemingly less noble jobs, such as lighting a fire even when it rains, digging a latrine, build makeshift shelters. A good shipping guide is also a good cook. He must be able to create menus that are appropriate for the group, but at the same time compatible with the resources of the location.
He must know how to buy, 'pack', managing and cooking food for several days, even for groups with heterogeneous diets (vegetarians, coeliacs). It must have notions of first aid in remote areas and keep hygiene in the camps under control so that the whole group is well. It all sounds very complicated, but it really isn't. It is a job like any other, which you learn by doing it. It is just a lot of passion and dedication is neededbut what the river gives us in return is unparalleled.
One often has to deal with people who do not speak languages known to us from completely different cultures, for example from the Himalayas.
Knowing several languages and being good communicators can be a great help.
